Method and apparatus to connect consumer to expert
AssigneeKeen.com, Inc.
InventorRandall B. Lauffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention provides for a method of (or apparatus for) facilitating the delivery of advice to consumers using a server unit which can store and display the names and characteristics of experts and then rapidly assist in connecting the expert and consumer for real-time communication. The server can also have the ability to receive keywords from the consumer, match those keywords to one or more experts, and tell the consumer how to contact an expert.
Claims44
A method of connecting two parties in real time, the method comprising:
- displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question;
- the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert;
- in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert;
- and
- said automatically establishing the connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
A system for connecting two parties in real time, the system comprising:
- a database to store information about a plurality of experts;
- a first logic unit linked with the database to display a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question, the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said list includes a compensation rate for each expert;
- and
- a second logic unit linked with the database to automatically establish, in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, a telephone connection between the consumer and the expert prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert;
- said second logic unit automatically establishing the telephone connection by a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
- displaying a list of experts to a consumer via an Internet connection with said consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question;
- the list indicating individually whether each expert is currently available to telephonically communicate with said consumer at a time when said consumer is viewing the list, said list includes a compensation rate for each expert;
- in response to the consumer selecting a displayed icon corresponding to an expert from the list, automatically establishing a telephone connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question to the expert;
- and
- said automatically establishing the telephone connection includes a central controller placing a telephone call to said consumer via a connection separate from said Internet connection, and said central controller placing a telephone call to said expert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.